2017 NFL mock draft: Chiefs avoid QB until late rounds

Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama, DT (3rd, 91st overall)

Tomlinson is the big body in the middle of the vaunted Alabama defense that made life so much easier for pass rushing prospects like Tim Williams and linebackers like Reuben Foster. Tomlinson is expected to go on Day 2 in the second or third round, per Todd McShay, so this is the perfect range for the Chiefs to grab him.

Tomlinson enters the NFL at 6-3, 310 pounds and was accepted at Harvard before he chose Alabama. A bright kid with a strong work ethic, there’s a lot to like about Tomlinson off and on the field. Tomlinson had 62 tackles last year and 3 sacks after playing in the shadow of Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson, who went pro last season, in previous years.

What we say:

It’s impossible not to love this pick for the Chiefs. The rich really do get richer in this instance for 2017, as Tomlinson is a complete luxury on the depth chart behind Chris Jones, Bennie Logan, Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard. Even after losing Dontari Poe, that’s a stacked line that should be better than ever this season.

That said, Tomlinson’s presence would ease the potential exits of both Jaye Howard and Bennie Logan next offseason as their contracts come off the books. Bailey is also a potential cut given that he has an $8 million cap hit in 2018 with only $2 million in dead cap space if he’s released.

In other words, the Chiefs defensive line could look wildly different in 2018 than 2017, which means keeping some young continuity with Jones and Tomlinson makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs.